Photo:Depositphotos/Zoran Milanovic
Zoran Milanović, the current president of Croatia, won a landslide victory in the second round of the presidential election held on 12 January. According to preliminary official figures, 78% of voters cast their ballots for him, while his rival, former Minister of Science, Education and Sport Dragan Primorac, received only 22%.
Before the second round of voting, Croatian researchers in cooperation with the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) identified signs of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign. According to the CIR, Russian, anti-European and anti-NATO botnets were found to be actively praising Milanović, spreading relevant content and anti-European narratives.
Milanović, who has been in office since 2020 and previously headed the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, has repeatedly used populist rhetoric to appeal to voters with centre-right views. He is also known for his criticism of Kyiv, calling Ukraine “the most corrupt country in the world” and criticising the provision of military aid to Kyiv and the imposition of sanctions against Russia.
Despite controversial statements and accusations of populism, Milanovic managed to win a second term in office, sparking international debate about the possible impact of disinformation on political processes in the country. His victory raises questions about the direction of Croatia’s foreign policy in the context of Euro-Atlantic ties and relations with Russia.
